International
Displaced Palestinians Return to Rubble as Ceasefire Holds
- Displaced Palestinians return home as a Gaza ceasefire takes effect.
- Residents face widespread destruction but express hope for rebuilding.
- Celebrations erupt despite the scars of war and delayed peace.
The streets of Gaza bustled with a mix of celebration and despair on Sunday as displaced Palestinians began returning to their shattered homes following a ceasefire.
Months of relentless Israeli airstrikes and shelling had reduced vast swathes of the territory to rubble, particularly in the northern areas such as Gaza City and Jabalia.
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Displaced residents like Walid Abu Jiab returned to find a city unrecognizable. “We came here at six in the morning to find massive, unprecedented destruction,” he said.
His sentiment echoed that of many who walked through streets littered with debris and lined with the skeletal remains of buildings that once housed families. “There is nothing left in the north worth living for,” he added.
Despite the heartbreaking destruction, the ceasefire brought moments of collective relief and joy. In the southern city of Khan Yunis, jubilant crowds filled the streets, waving Palestinian flags and chanting.
Armed men paraded through in pickup trucks, firing rifles into the air in celebration. “This joy is more beautiful than the joy of Eid,” a man declared from the window of his packed car, headed toward Rafah with his family and belongings.
Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, became a focal point for those seeking refuge even before the ceasefire officially began. The delayed implementation of the truce, reportedly due to a holdup in hostage-release negotiations, did little to dampen the determination of residents eager to rebuild.
Muhammad al-Shaer, a displaced Rafah resident, observed, “The residents have returned to the city of Rafah, even though it is no longer a city.”
Across Gaza, the spirit of resilience was palpable. Children played amidst the ruins, while bulldozers in Gaza City began clearing rubble to reopen roads.
Asem Alnabih, the city’s spokesman, announced plans to facilitate the return of displaced citizens, writing, “We are starting today to reopen the main roads in Gaza City.”
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For many, the focus has shifted to rebuilding. Walid Abu Jalboa from Jabalia voiced a sentiment shared by countless others: “God willing, with our will, faith in God, and strength, we will rebuild and live.”
The ceasefire marks a fragile yet significant step toward stability in a region scarred by conflict. While the celebrations offer a glimmer of hope, the monumental task of reconstruction and healing lies ahead.
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